Pit cushion mount and actuator mechanism for bowling machines



May 16, 1967 R. A. LENHART 3,319,959

PIT CUSHION MOUNT AND ACTUATOR MECHANISM FOR BOWLING MACHINES Filed Nov. 23, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 I INVENTOR. RONALD A. LENHART 1g; 1 BY ATTORNEY May 16, 1967 R. A. LENHART 3,319,959

PIT CUSHION MOUNT AND ACTUATOR MECHANISM FOR BOWLING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1964 3 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

RONALD A. LENHART BY ATTORNEY May 16, 1967 R. A. LENHART 3,319,959

PIT CUSHION MOUNT AND ACTUATOR MECHANISM FOR BOWLING MACHINES Filed Nov. 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

RONALD A. LEN HART A TTORNE Y United States Patent ()fitice 3,319,959 Patented May 16, 1967 3,319,959 PIT CUHION MOUNT AND ACTUATOR IVIECHA. NHM F53}? BGWLING MACHINES Ronald A. Lenhart, 8462 W. 24th St., Lakewood, C010. 80215 Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 413,185 7 Claims. (Cl. 27343) The present invention relates to a pit cushion mounting and machine actuator system for automatic bowling machines. Specifically, the invention provides a mechanism that may be used with a present type of automatic pin setting machine in order to better absorb ball impact forces directed against the pit cushion and, further, to provide an alternate machine actuating mechanism that will be triggered either by impact engagements or by the mere touching of the ball and cushion. The present mechanism is presented as a modification specifically for Brunswick A type pin setting machines and is designed to minimize breakage of the pit cushion arms through provision of means for pivotally mounting the pit cushion with respect to such arms.

While the main object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the described machines, it is a further specific object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for the absorption of ball impact forces in bowling machine construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivotally mounted pit cushion, the swinging movement of which is resisted by an air cushion cylinder which will absorb impact shocks but will further permit ordinary movement of the bowling machine as required.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved actuator mechanism which will serve to cycle the machine when a ball has been received in the pit.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an actuator mechanism that will be efficiently energized by severe impact shocks directed against the pit cushion or by the mere touching of a ball that has stopped in the pit and is moved against the pit cushion by action of the pit shaker mechanism of the machine.

Specific objects of the invention are to provide improved pit cushion mounting and actuator mechanisms for presently used bowling machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a modification kit for existing machines that may be economically installed to provide improved operating results.

In addition to the foregoing objectives, it is a further objective of the present invention to provide a combined mechanism which will tend to speed the return of bowled balls to the bowling participants.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the appended description and drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a rear elevation showing a first embodiment of a pit cushion mount and machine actuator mechanism,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation with parts shown in alternate position further illustrating the configuration and operation of a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation in partial section showing the at-rest position for a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 is a side elevation showing the impact position for the second embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation in partial cross-section showing the raised cycle for the second embodiment of the invention.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a ball control and redelivery mechanism for automatic bowling pin spotting machines and is concerned with improvements therein. Such improvements are directed first to the provision of a pivot mount for pit cushions whereby the cushions can move pivotally when hit by a bowling ball so the ball will be allowed to pass the pit cushion rather than be bounced forwardly into the pit to be mixed with the upset pins. Secondly, the pivotal movement of the pit cushion is resisted by an air chamber having distinctive operational characteristics by reason of large air escape orifices. With such arrangement the impact of fast balls is absorbed while the engagement between a slow ball and the pit cushion is still sufficient to cause movement of the pit cushion as necessary to energize a machine actuating system. Such actuator mechanism presents a further aspect of the invention. A main purpose of this component is to initiate the desired cycling of the bowling machine operations when the pit cushion is moved as by the impact of a delivered ball. The modified actuator mechanisms of this invention serve to interconnect the pivot mounted pit cushion and the existing cycling trigger of the bowling machine without the necessity of delivering shock impacts through the pit cushion support arms to such trigger mechanism. Many adjustment features are provided in the total combination of mechanisms so that the cycle operations for a bowling machine may be closely regulated to provide for the most efficient installation of such combined mechanisms.

Specific advantages of the present invention become more apparent from a description of the features illustrated in the accompanying figures and described herein. Before such description, however, it should be noted that while the features of this invention are adaptable to use in various types of bowling machines, the present description will, in general, be limited to the structural features of modified apparatus designed specifically for incorporation in existing bowling machines of the Brunswick A type. For such installations the present invention provides means for eliminating presently noted extreme shock loadings on the pit cushion mount arms. Further, in addition to the elimination of arm breakage and other and further maintenance problems, the present combination is provided to speed the ball return time for such machines by modifying the rebound characteristics of bowling balls that hit the pit cushion.

A function of the changed mechanisms is to stop, but pass, any ball engaging the pit cushion without excessive rebound of such ball into the forward regions of the pit where the necessary continued backward movement of the ball toward the ball wheel is delayed by mixed engagements with fallen pins that are gathering in the pit. Since it is desired to stop the ball with minimum rebound and since the impact characteristics of balls delivered by difierent bowlers are markedly varied, it was determined that a first function of the pit cushion mount mechanism should be to receive the ball and thus absorb the inertia of the ball. From other fields it was known that the best reception for a moving ball is provided by movement of the receiver. It was further determined that the absorption of impact shock loadings that are of widely varied intensity could best be accomplished through use of components having a variable resistance characteristic that could be matched to the experienced shock range.

In satisfaction of these requirements, the applicant provides a pit cushion mount mechanism in which the pit cushion is mounted for pivotal movement at a position for the interception of delivered balls. Free swinging movement of the pit cushion, however, is restricted by the use of an air cylinder or dashpot opposing backward swinging movement of said pit cushion.

The detailed configuration of such first embodiment which incorporates these desired features is shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. In this embodiment of the invention the pit cushion arm 11 is provided with an adjusting eye 12 that is engaged with a pivot 13 to interconnect the eye 12 with an offset mount 14 that is attached to the pit cushion 15. The position of the offset mount 14 and of the pivot 13 with respect to the center of gravity for the pit cushion tends to hold the pit cushion 15 in at-rest position which is inclined to the horizontal at an angle in the approximate range of 45 to 70. Such inclined angle is itself desirable, since the direction of rebound for a ball impacted against such inclined surface will be directed downwardly into the pit rather than forwardly toward the front of the pit and the bowler.

The pit cushion 15 is free to swing about the pivot 13, and, accordingly, any ball which strikes the lower portion of the pit cushion '15 will tend to rotate the pit cushion about the pivot 13. Such rotational movement of the pit cushion is resisted by a dashpot or air cylinder 20. Air cylinder 20 is mounted for extension and retraction between pins 16 and 17 with the pin 17 and bracket 18 being placed on the back surface of the pit cushion 15 and with support 19 being mounted above an existing rear wall 21 of some present machine installations. The air cylinder 20 itself is made up of two cylindrical tube sections 22 and 23 with the piston tube 23 being telescoped within the tube 22. End wall closures 24 and 25 are provided at the opposed ends of the cylinder 20 to enclose an air chamber 26 within the air cylinder 20 which is vented to the atmosphere by the passage or gap 27 between the reciprocally movable walls of the tubes 22 and 23.

For best operation of the mechanism the fit between the exterior surface of the tube 23 and the interior surface of the tube 22 is quite loose. This loose fit provides a larger orifice size to displaceable volume ratio than would be usual for most dashpot installations. The desired and correct ratio is determined so that the hardest thrown ball impacting against the bottom region of the pit cushion 15 will still meet a yielding rather than a hard or reflecting surface. In present installations the desirable orifice flow size has been obtained through the simple use of commercially available tube sizes for the tube 22 and piston tube 23. When the piston tube telescopes freely within the cylinder tube 22, the desired dashpot effect has been conveniently obtained.

In FIGURE 2 the ball is shown at position B engaged between the lower end 29 of the cushion 15 and a shaker rug 31 disposed at the bottom of the pit 32. The cylinder 20 is, in such illustration, in its retracted position, and the point of initial ball impact is illustrated in dotted outline at A. From this illustration it will be seen that the stopped ball is received cooperatively by the pit cushion 15 and the shaker rug 31. In such illustration the ball has been stopped, but held, toward the rear of the pit and is in position for direct passage to the ball wheel without loss of time while the ball winds its way past a collection of downed pins that are likewise received on the shaker rug 3 1.

In the accomplishment of such desired result, the receiving movement of the cushion 15 and the inertia absorption by the air cylinder 20 have cooperatively worked together to bring the ball to a position for return to the bowler with a lower elapsed time than is characteristic of present type pit cushions in which the cushion is somewhat rigidly supported in near vertical position and in which the balls are often bounced or reflected forwardly to the front of the pit by the impact shock. When the ball is stopped at the rear of the pit adjacent the cushion, it will move directly to the ball elevating wheel which is positioned behind the cushion when the cushion is raised by the cyclic operation of the automatic pin spotting machine. In the type of machine especially adapted for use of this combination mechanism, the cycle operation of the machine and, consequently, the raising of the pit cushion is presently activated by the impact shock directed against the pit cushion by the bowling ball.

\Vhile absorption of the ball inertia by the air cylinders 20 is doubly beneficial, inasmuch as it tends to keep the ball at the rear of the pit and, further, substantially eliminates shock loadings on the cushion support arm 11, it does present a new problem.

The elimination of such shock or impact has made it necessary to provide a different actuator mechanism for initiation of the cycle operation of the bowling machines. In present machines the impact against the pit cushion is transmitted by the support arms 11 to an elevated position where such shock movement tends to move a push rod which in turn moves an actuator lever to cycle the bowling machine so that the upright or downed pins will be swept backwardly into the pit by the sweep arm mechanism before the resetting of new pins. Elimination of the impact movement of the pit cushion support arms 11 has made it necessary to provide a modified actuator mechanism which transmits the pivotal movement of the pit cushion upwardly where it can itself be used to institute movement of the actuator lever.

The components and operation of a first type of modified actuator mechanism is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3. In these figures it will be noted that a mounting bracket 33 is provided on the back side of the pit cushion 15 in position adjacent to the bracket 18 disposed on the right side of the pit cushion. This mounting bracket 33 provides a pivot connection 34 to which an adjusting eye 36 can be connected so that a connecting rod 37 will be moved up and down as the pit cushion 15 moves reciprocally about the pivot 13 which is disposed in position above the pivot connection 34. The top end of the connecting rod 37 is likewise provided with an adjusting eye 38, and it is connected by a pin 39 to a first arm 41 of a rocker lever 42 which pivots about rocker shaft 43 to move the follower arm 44 and the Uniball 46 mounted thereon. As Uniball 46 is moved reciprocally toward the right, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, push rod 47 will cause a corresponding movement of a second Uniball 48. Uniball 48 is itself mounted on a rocker arm 49 so that the movement of the Uniball 48 is transmitted to an actuator lever 51, the movement of which causes the cycling of the bowling machine to be initiated.

In a first cyclic operation of the bowling machine the pit cushion support arm 11 will itself be raised. This upward movement of the pit cushion support arm 11 raises the pit cushion 15 to a non-obstructing position so that any ball or pins in the pit will be moved by the shaking of the rug 31 backwardly toward the ball and pin wheels. The ball is then moved by the ball wheel to an elevated position for gravity return to the bowlers while the pins are elevated for introduction into the pin spotting mechanisms of the machine.

As the support arms 11 are raised, several position and operational changes result. When the top end 52 of the support arm 11 is raised, an extension bracket 53 attached to the end 52 is likewise raised. This causes the rocker lever 42 to be elevated upwardly and away from the rocker arm 49 and its Uniball 48. The push rod 47, accordingly, moves reciprocally out of a slide tube 54, which is mounted directly in Uniball 48. Such extension movement of the push rod 47 does not disrupt the operation of the actuator lever 51 due to the slipping engagement between the push rod 47 and the slide tube 54. As illustrated, the air cylinder 20 will itself be elevated and compressed by such movement. Without such compression, elements of the machine would be bound up or the pit cushion 15 would be moved forwardly toward the front of the pit. Such movement is undesirable, and, accordingly, the large orifice capacity of the air cylinders 20 which permits easy compression of the cylinder is of importance.

With the present orifice size ratio the cylinders are readily compressed by such upward movement of the mechanisms, and, accordingly, no difficulties are encountered by reason of the incorporation of such cylinders to provide a shock absorbing element that limits the receiving movement of the pit cushion 15 and absorbs the impact inertia of bowling balls.

The combination shown and described fully satisfies the objectives of the invention and, accordingly, provides an improvement for existing machines. Operation of the described embodiment of the invention has shown that bowling balls are on the average return to the bowler more expeditiously when the present mechanism is installed. The quick return features of the device are of considerable importance, since bowling participants are enabled thereby to complete a line or game in a shorter total elapsed time. When shorter total game times the bowling proprietor can expect increased revenue when the present combination mechanism is installed.

In addition to the improved ball return features of the present embodiment of the invention, it should be noted that a further saving is expected, inasmuch as the support arms 11 are no longer subjected to heavy shock loadings. Elimination of such heavy shock loadings is expected to reduce the recurrent breakage of the support arms noted in the operation of the presently used mechanisms. The reduction in maintenance costs can be a considerable benefit when the improved mechanism described herein is used.

Similar advantages and benefits may be derived through use of mechanisms of the type shown in FIGURES 4 through 6. These figures present a second embodiment of the invention which is directed primarily to the provision of a modified type of actuator mechanism. The embodiment also utilizes a different type of connection between the support arms 11 and the pit cushion 15. In this embodiment of the invention, a leg member 56 is welded to the lower extremity of the support arm '11, and such leg is provided with an opening (not shown) through which the pivot bolt 57 is extended. This arrangement makes it possible to adjust the vertical position of the pit cushion 15 with respect to the support arm 11 without removing the pivot pin 58 which attaches such pivot bolt 57 to the offset mount 14.

In this embodiment it is unnecessary to provide any changes at the top of the support arm 11 as by the provision of the extension bracket '53 used in the prior embodiment. The construction of the pit cushion 15 and support arms 11 is in all other respects similar to that in the previously described embodiment. As in the previous instance, curtain supports 59 are provided on the top of the pit cushion 15 so that a through rod 61 for the support of a curtain 62 may be inserted therein. As shown in these figures, the curtain 62 extends between an Unistrut support 63 and the top of the pit cushion 15 so that balls and pins will be prevented from bouncing over the top of the pit cushion to hit or damage any of the machine mechanisms. For both embodiments of the present invention, the curtain structure is unmodified from that provided on the original machines.

The major changes presented in this second embodiment of the invention are concerned with a different type of actuator mechanism. As before, such actuator mechanism interconnects the moving pit cushion 15 and the rocker arm 49 on the existing machine so that the actuator lever 51 will move when a ball hits the pit cushion 15 to initiate the cyclic operations of the pin spotting machine.

The construction and function of such modified actuator mechanism is shown in FIGURES 4 through 6 wherein parts that are similar to those previously described are provided with the original numbering. In this embodiment the mounting bracket 33 of the actuator mechanism is again provided in position substantially aligned with the brackets 18 that support the lower ends of the air cylinders 20. A beam element 64 is pivotally secured at its lower end to such bracket 33. The upper end of beam 64 is provided with a Uniball 46, the movement of which is to be transmitted to the rocker arm 49. Instead of providing a rocker lever 42, as in the previous embodiment, the beam 64 itself provides a rocking motion when the pit cushion 15 is swung about its pivot 58. In order to obtain this movement, a fulcrum comparable to that provided by the rocker shaft 43- is required. In the present embodiment the pivot or fulcrum for the beam 64 is provided by a follower or roller 66. The roller 66 is held in fixed position by a frame 67 disposed between the Unistrut 63 and a transmission component 68 presently on the described existing machines.

In addition to a plate 69, which is directly connected to the transmission 68, the frame includes spaced apart forks 71 which engage opposite sides of the beam 64 to prevent lateral movement thereof. A spring 72 holds the beam 64 against the roller 66 and, accordingly, causes any lateral movements of the lower end of the beam 64 to result in a corresponding but oppositely directed movement for the top end of the beam 64. With the mechanism elements already described, pivoting movement of the pit cushion 15 will cause a rotational movement of the rocker arm 4-9 about its pivot resulting in a movement of actuating lever 51 as necessary to initiate the cycle operations of the pin spotting machine. Accordingly, if a ball comes into contact with the pit cushion 15, the cyclic operations will be initiated. The positioning of all elements at impact is illustrated in FIGURE 5.

As soon as the cycle has been initiated, however, the support arms 11 will be raised. This raising of the support arms 11 causes the pit cushion 15 to be raised, and the beam 64 will itself be raised. A direct elevation of the beam 64 would ordinarily cause the Uniball 46 to be initially moved toward the rocker arm 49. This movement is undesirable when the invention is being used with the Brunswick A type of machines where freedom of the rocker arm 49 is relatively limited. To prevent jamming of the mechanisms, a cam segment 73 is positioned on the beam 64. When such cam segment is used, elevating motion of the beam 64 will bring the cam surface into engagement with the follower-roller 66, and the upper end of the beam 64 and Uniball 46 will actually be moved away from the rocker arm 49. As the Uniball 46 and push rod 47 are moved away from the Uniball 48, the stem 74 of the push rod 47 will move reciprocally out of the slide tube 54 on Uniball 48, and the rocker arm 49 will return to its at-rest position, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6. The slide tube 54 in this and in the previous embodiment allows free reciprocal movement of a push rod 47 away from the rocker arm 49, while a shoulder or stop on the push rod 47 limits the motion of the push rod toward Uniball 48 and the rocker arm 49.

Because of variations in alignment and installation distances for pin spotting machine installations, both embodiments of the invention provide a combination of adjustable features so that the pit cushion 15 and the actuator mechanism may be properly placed and synchronized to accomplish the desired results. In all installations an adjustment is provided at the base of the support arms 11 so that the pit cushion can be raised or lowered (see adjusting eye 12 in FIGURES 1 through 3 and pivot bolt 57 in the second embodiment). The total length of actuator connecting rod 37 and beam 64 is similarly adjustable to compensate for differences in the placement elevation for the pit cushions 15 and rocker arms 49.

In the second embodiment of the invention the placement of the cam 73 itself may be adjusted to assure proper functioning of the machine. In similar manner, the vertical position of follower-rocker 66 may also be adjusted to compensate for installation variations.

These multiple adjusting features and the mechanisms described herein make it possible for the inventor to provide an improvement or attachment for bowling pin spotting machines that fully satisfies some present user requirements.

While separate embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it should be apparent that the invention is adaptable to various modifications and changes. All such modifications that come within the hereunto appended claims are considered to be a part of this invention.

I claim:

1. An improved pit cushion mount for bowling machines which include a general frame structure, machine drive elements, support arms interconnected to said drive elements for holding the said pit cushion in lowered operative position across the rear of the pit thereof and alternately in a raised out of the way position, comprising pivot elements disposed at the lower end of said support arms, a pit cushion for engagement with said pivot elements, said pivot elements being in position of non-alignment with respect to the plane of the pit cushion whereby the said pit cushion hangs at a backwardly inclined angle in the pit of said machine, a pivot support on frame elements of said machine and disposed behind the pivot elements for said pit cushion, a pivot bracket on said pit cushion in location below the said pivot elements for the pit cushion, and a dashpot pivotally mounted between said pivot support and bracket for resisting rearward swinging movement of said pit cushion when bowling balls are impacted against the front of said pit cushion, said dashpot permitting relatively easy extension of the dashpot whereby forward movement of said pit cushion and movement to the raised out of Way position above said pit is relatively unimpeded.

2. An improved pit cushion mount for bowling machines which include a general frame structure, machine drive elements, support arms interconnected to said drive elements for holding the said pit cushion in lowered operative position across the rear of the pit thereof and alternately in a raised out of the way position, comprising pivot elements disposed at the lower end of said support arms, a pit cushion, an offset bracket rigidly on the back of said pit cushion for engagement with said pivot elements, said pivot elements being in position of non-alignment with respect to the plane of the pit cushion whereby the said pit cushion hangs at a backwardly inclined angle in the pit of said machine, a pivot support on frame elements of said machine and disposed behind the pivot elements for said pit cushion, a pivot bracket on said pit cushion in location below the said pivot elements for the pit cushion, and a dashpot pivotally mounted between said pivot support and bracket for resisting rearward swinging movement of said pit cushion when bowling balls are impacted against the front of said pit cushion, said dashpot permitting relatively easy extension of the dashpot whereby forward movement of said pit cushion and movement to the raised out of way position above said pit is relatively unimpeded.

3. An improved pit cushion mount for bowling machines which include a general frame structure, machine drive elements, support arms interconnected to said drive elements for holding the said pit cushion in lowered operative position across the rear of the pit thereof and alternately in a raised out of the way position comprising pivot elements disposed at the lower end of said support arms, a pit cushion for engagement with said pivot elements said ,pivot elements being in position of non-alignment with respect to the plane of said pit cushion and the center of gravity thereof whereby the said pit cushion hangs for free swinging movement at a backwardly inclined angle in the pit of said machine, a pivot support on frame elements of said machine and disposed above and behind the pivot elements for said pit cushion, a pivot bracket on said pit cushion in location below the said pivot elements for the pit cushion, and a dashpot pivotally mounted between said pivot support and bracket for resisting rearward swinging movement of said pit cushion when bowling balls are impacted against the front of said pit cushion, said dashpot permitting relatively easy extension of the dashpot whereby forward movement of said pit cushion and movement to the raised out of way position above said pit is relatively unimpeded.

4. An improved pit cushion mount for bowling machines which include a general frame structure, machine drive elements, support arms interconnected to said drive elements for holding the said pit cushion in lowered operative position across the rear of the pit thereof and alternately in a raised out of the Way position comprising an offset leg at the lower end of each of said support arms, a pivot element of adjustable length disposed on said offset legs whereby the elevation of the pivot may be adjusted with respect to the support arms, a pit cushion for engagement with said pivot elements, said pivot elements being in position of non-alignment with respect to the plane of the pit cushion whereby the said pit cushion hangs at a backwardly inclined angle in the pit of said machine, a pivot support on frame elements of said machine and disposed behind the pivot elements for said pit cushion, a pivot bracket on said pit cushion in location below the said pivot elements for the pit cushion, and an air dashpot pivotally mounted between said pivot support and bracket for resisting rearward swinging movement of said pit cushion when bowling balls are impacted against the front of said pit cushion, said dashpot permitting relatively easy extension of the dashpot whereby forward movement of said pit cushion and movement to the raised out of way posi tion above said pit is relatively unimpeded.

5. An improved pit cushion mount and actuator mechanism vfor bowling machines which include a general frame structure, machine drive elements, support arms interconnected to said drive elements for holding the said pit cushion in lowered operative position across the rear of the pit thereof and alternately in a raised out of the way position and a machine actuator mechanism for initiation of the cyclic operations of the machine comprising pivot elements disposed at the lower end of said support arms, a pit cushion for engagement with said pivot elements, said pivot elements being in position of non-alignment with respect to the plane of the pit cushion whereby the said pit cushion hangs at a backwardly inclined angle in the pit of said machine, a pivot support on frame elements of said machine and disposed behind the pivot elements for said pit cushion, a pivot bracket on said pit cushion in location below the said pivot elements for the pit cushion, a beam rod pivotally secured to said pit cushion at a position below the pivot elements for said pit cushion, said beam rod extending upwardly within the machine structure for transmitting initial movement of said pit cushion to an elevated position, a push rod mechanism at the upper end of said beam rod interconnecting said upper end and the machine actuator lever whereby pivotal movement of'said pit cushion will initiate the cyclic operations of the machine to sequentially elevate the support arms and pit cushion to the raised out of way position, and a dashpot pivotally mounted between said pivot support and bracket for resisting rearward swinging movement of said pit cushion when bowling balls are impacted against the front of said pit cushion, said dashpot permitting relatively easy extension of the dashpot whereby forward movement of said pit cushion at least to a vertical position and movement to the raised out of way position above said pit is relatively unimpeded.

6. An improved pit cushion mount for bowling machines which include a general frame structure, machine drive elements, support arms interconnected to said drive elements for holding the said pit cushion in lowered operative position across the rear of the pit thereof and alternately in a raised out of the way position comprising pivot elements disposed at the lower end of said support arms, a pit cushion for engagement with said pivot elements, said pivot elements being in position of non-alignment with respect to the plane of said pit cushion and the center of gravity thereof whereby the said pit cushion hangs for free swinging movement at a backwardly inclined angle in the pit of said machine, a pivot support on frame elements of said machine and disposed above and behind the pivot elements for said pit cushion, a pivot bracket on said pit cushion in location below the said pivot elements for the pit cushion, and a dashpot pivotally mounted between said pivot support and bracket and disposed relative to the movement are for said pit cushion whereby rearward swinging movements of said pit cushion are directly resisted 'by said dashpot when bowling balls are impacted against the front of said pit cushion, said dashpot permitting relatively easy extension of the dashpot whereby forward movement of said pit cushion and movement to the raised out of way position above said pit is relatively unimpeded.

7. An improved pit cushion mount and actuator mechanism for bowling machines which include a general frame structure, machine drive elements, support arms interconnected to said drive elements for holding the said pit cushion in lowered operative position across the rear of the pit thereof and alternately in a raised out of the way position and a machine actuator mechanism for initiation of the cyclic operations of the machine comprising pivot elements disposed at the lower end of said support arms, a pit cushion for engagement with said pivot elements, said pivot elements being in position of non-alignment with respect to the plane of the pit cushion whereby the said pit cushion hangs at a backwardly inclined angle in the pit of said machine, a pivot support on frame elements of said machine and disposed behind the pivot elements for said pit cushion, a pivot bracket on said pit cushion in location below the said pivot elements for the pit cushion, a beam rod pivotally secured to said pit cushion at a position below the pivot elements for said pit cushion, fulcrum elements disposed intermediate the ends of said beam rod, means holding said beam rod against said fulcrum, said beam rod extending upwardly within the machine structure whereby initial movement of said pit cushion causes a corresponding movement of the upper end of said beam rod in direction regulated by the positioning of said fulcrum, a push rod mechanism at the upper end of said beam rod interconnecting said upper end and the machine actuator lever whereby pivotal movement of said pit cushion will result in corresponding movement of said push rod to initiate the cyclic operations of the machine whereby the support arms and the pit cushion will be sequentially raised to the out of way position, and a dashpot pivotally mounted between said pivot support and bracket for resisting rearward swinging movement of said pit cushion when bowling balls are impacted against the front of said pit cushion, said dashpot permitting relatively easy extension of the dashpot where-by forward movement of said pit cushion at least to a vertical position and movement to the raised out of way position above said pit is rela tively unimpeded.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 499,075 6/1893 Winn 27347 2,306,955 12/ 1942 Karbusky 27347 2,815,954 12/ 1957 Zuercher 27353 2,941,803 6/1960 Daggett 27343 2,946,591 7/1960 Huck et al. 27343 FOREIGN PATENTS 181,442 2/ 1907 Germany.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED PIT CUSHION MOUNT FOR BOWLING MACHINES WHICH INCLUDE A GENERAL FRAME STRUCTURE, MACHINE DRIVE ELEMENTS, SUPPORT ARMS INTERCONNECTED TO SAID DRIVE ELEMENTS FOR HOLDING THE SAID PIT CUSHION IN LOWERED OPERATIVE POSITION ACROSS THE REAR OF THE PIT THEREOF AND ALTERNATELY IN A RAISED OUT OF THE WAY POSITION, COMPRISING PIVOT ELEMENTS DISPOSED AT THE LOWER END OF SAID SUPPORT ARMS, A PIT CUSHION FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PIVOT ELEMENTS, SAID PIVOT ELEMENTS BEING IN POSITION OF NON-ALIGNMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANE OF THE PIT CUSHION WHEREBY THE SAID PIT CUSHION HANGS AT A BACKWARDLY INCLINED ANGLE IN THE PIT OF SAID MACHINE, A PIVOT SUPPORT ON FRAME ELEMENTS OF SAID MACHINE AND DISPOSED BEHIND THE PIVOT ELEMENTS FOR SAID PIT CUSHION, A PIVOT BRACKET ON SAID PIT CUSHION IN LOCATION BELOW THE SAID PIVOT ELEMENTS FOR THE PIT CUSHION, AND A DASHPOT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID PIVOT SUPPORT AND BRACKET FOR RESISTING REARWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID PIT CUSHION WHEN BOWLING BALLS ARE IMPACTED AGAINST THE FRONT OF SAID PIT CUSHION, SAID DASHPOT PERMITTING RELATIVELY EASY EXTENSION OF THE DASHPOT WHEREBY FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PIT CUSHION AND MOVEMENT TO THE RAISED OUT OF WAY POSITION ABOVE SAID PIT IS RELATIVELY UNIMPEDED. 